Thursday, October 8, 2009

A marvelous oxymoron “knife of the heart” – Love others with patience

Contrary to the bright tackiness of deep red felt surface, embossed gold lettering and fancy borders, the scroll artwork titled "Patience" (a thoughtful souvenir of Hue Festival summer ’08, from Tuan a closed friend who traveled there from Vancouver to attend it), I look occasionally at this wall hanging on the right side of my bedroom and find it quite soothing to the eyes and comforting to read its elegant words. It whispers encouragement, "Look right ... patience" especially during needed quiet times to ponder in the comfortable bedroom, about difficult situations that careful interactions must be considered within my family, at my workplace and in my community, as well as with organizations. In Chinese languages and traditional Vietnamese script, the word "patience" is consisted of two character strokes “knife” over “heart”. What a marvelous oxymoron of such meaningful word! Loving truly in any relationship is “tough” love with the strength of patience.